Tired of Punctures on Dublin roads

Rezident

Cycling since June and I have had a lot of punctures. So I got "anti-puncture" tyres and no punctures for a few weeks but now they're back again. Two punctures this week, one of them right through the tyre, cost me a whole new tyre as well. Looking at the other tyre it has a lot of small nicks and holes in it now after a few months on Dublin roads.

Sick to death of it. Just heard of kevlar tyres, are they any good? What do most people do?

Also saw "flat stop liners" on youtube but my local bike shop does not do them - are they any good? I'll try anything at this stage, Dublin roads are brutal!

Have a Canondale badboy bike that was fine until it started getting punctures every week.

Lumen

With regular tyres glass shards will eventually worm themselves through the rubber and then you'll get loads of flats clustered together. If you want to get more life out of them you have to carefully remove all the glass reasonably regularly.

Alternatively get some Marathon or Marathon Plus tyres if you want to fit & forget and don't care too much about the last degree of performance.

Zyzz

'Tired' ..heh

I agree though, massive pain in the hole.

Outkast_IRE

Since i started using the Panaracer flataway tyre liners, i have not got one puncture, even though i have ended up going over glass etc many times.

They are the best bike related investment i have made.

The Sidewards Man

Rezident wrote: »

I'll try anything at this stage, Dublin roads are brutal!

Try the cycle lanes, away less chance of foreign debris.

RobFowl

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

Try the cycle lanes, away less chance of foreign debris.

You are taking the piss aren't you ?

ted1

How often do you pump your tires? You need to keep them pumped up hard. 120 PSI for most road tyres.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

Try the cycle lanes, away less chance of foreign debris.

This is absolutely incorrect. The chances of getting a puncture in a cycle lane is just ridiculous. They are not maintained. Although roads are not swept regularly, vehicles help distribute the debris and make it less hazardous.

I was sick of getting punctures so moved to cycling on the road. Only puncture i got on the road was from hitting a pothole too hard.

crosstownk

ted1 wrote: »

How often do you pump your tires? You need to keep them pumped up hard.

I'm reluctant to post here in case karma comes and bites me.

I do a reasonable amount of commuting in Dublin and have no grief with punctures. I always ensure that my tyres are pumped good and hard and so far, no punctures over a fair few hundred kms. I also check my tyres for wear, cuts and debris regularly so maybe that helps.

It was tough typing this with crossed fingers

Beasty

OP, do you regularly check the tyres foreign objects? It's possible, if you go a while without getting punctures then get a few in a short space of time, that you may have something embedded in the tyre(s) that you may have missed previously

Rezident

ted1 wrote: »

How often do you pump your tires? You need to keep them pumped up hard. 120 PSI for most road tyres.

Yes my first puncture was due to that but I keep them well inflated now.

Rezident

Lumen wrote: »

With regular tyres glass shards will eventually worm themselves through the rubber and then you'll get loads of flats clustered together. If you want to get more life out of them you have to carefully remove all the glass reasonably regularly.

Alternatively get some Marathon or Marathon Plus tyres if you want to fit & forget and don't care too much about the last degree of performance.

Beasty wrote: »

OP, do you regularly check the tyres foreign objects? It's possible, if you go a while without getting punctures then get a few in a short space of time, that you may have something embedded in the tyre(s) that you may have missed previously

No I wasn't checking the tyres apart from when they were going flat. I didn't know you had too. Yes I can see there are lots of little nicks in them now. I'll check them regularly form now on. Cheers.

Rezident

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Since i started using the Panaracer flataway tyre liners, i have not got one puncture, even though i have ended up going over glass etc many times.

They are the best bike related investment i have made.

Yes I saw flat liners online but can't find them here. Where did you get them?

Beasty

Rezident wrote: »

No I wasn't checking the tyres apart from when they were going flat. I didn't know you had too. Yes I can see there are lots of little nicks in them now. I'll check them regularly form now on. Cheers.

If the tyres are fully inflated and you see any uneven surface around a nick there is probably something hidden. Deflate the tyre and you can then squeeze your fingers around the nick and usually see if there is something in there. I might check my tyres every couple of weeks and usually find something in them - I then use a very small screwdriver to dislodge whatever it is (which is usually a very small piece of glass or stone)

Outkast_IRE

Rezident wrote: »

Yes I saw flat liners online but can't find them here. Where did you get them?

Wiggle.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/panaracer-flataway-tyre-liner/

I have never seen them in a bricks and mortar shop here.
Just bite the bullet and order online.

Rezident

crosstownk wrote: »

I'm reluctant to post here in case karma comes and bites me.

I do a reasonable amount of commuting in Dublin and have no grief with punctures. I always ensure that my tyres are pumped good and hard and so far, no punctures over a fair few hundred kms. I also check my tyres for wear, cuts and debris regularly so maybe that helps.

It was tough typing this with crossed fingers

There are a few small nicks in the tyres alright from the general debris and shrapnel on Dublin roads. Can you fill the holes in or do you just have to get new tyres regularly?

Lumen

Rezident wrote: »

Can you fill the holes in or do you just have to get new tyres regularly?

The holes are usually big on the outside and tiny/invisible on the inside. Only if they're visible on the inside should you consider replacing the tyre itself (although you can probably even patch that; I've never done it myself).

Some people report that superglue can be used to close up the cuts.

Beasty

Rezident wrote: »

There are a few small nicks in the tyres alright from the general debris and shrapnel on Dublin roads. Can you fill the holes in or do you just have to get new tyres regularly?

Small nicks are fine so long as they are not hiding anything. You don't need to fill them and they will not cause any problems on their own

tomasrojo

Beasty wrote: »

If the tyres are fully inflated and you see any uneven surface around a nick there is probably something hidden. Deflate the tyre and you can then squeeze your fingers around the nick and usually see if there is something in there. I might check my tyres every couple of weeks and usually find something in them - I then use a very small screwdriver to dislodge whatever it is (which is usually a very small piece of glass or stone)

I don't even deflate the tyres. And I use the tip of a nail file (classical guitarist; I've a lot of old ones). Otherwise, identical.

Rezident

Good info, thanks lads.

check_six

You could always sell your soul to the Devil like the Endacl poster did and never worry about punctures again.

Link to a post from last year about how Endacl has *never* had a puncture!
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=90499732&postcount=7

The very idea that you would never get any punctures left a lasting impression on my mind that's for sure!

rollingscone

I'm a little bit mystified as to how so many people get so many punctures.

I usually get one every six months or so between the three bikes and I cycle everywhere.

Wishbone Ash

rollingscone wrote: »

I'm a little bit mystified as to how so many people get so many punctures...

I used to be like that - averaging about one per 5,000kms.

But this year has been an annus horribilis - I've had 15-20 so far or about one per 1,000kms.

Alanstrainor

OP have you mentioned what specific tires you're running? Good tires and the right PSI are the main things. Then checking them for pieces of glass embedded is the next. Beyond that you should be good.

NeedMoreGears

I use Vittoria Rubinos or Zaffiros ; very ordinary tyres. I keep reasonable pressure in them (110psi rear and 105psi front for me at 70kg) and pick debris out of them about once a month or so. I reckon my puncture rate is about 1/5000km.

ted1

NeedMoreGears wrote: »

. I reckon my puncture rate is about 1/5000km.

I find that there is specific puncture curve, as the frequency increase it's a sign to get new tyres. 1-5000 =1 puncture 5000-6000= 3 punctures and so on

RobFowl

What's with the high psi levels ! I'm 74 kgs and would usually use 90-95 for the road. Little less in the wet, why people use 120 routinely I just don't know ...

Alanstrainor

RobFowl wrote: »

What's with the high psi levels ! I'm 74 kgs and would usually use 90-95 for the road. Little less in the wet, why people use 120 routinely I just don't know ...

Recommended pressure from continental for gatorskins is between 110-120psi for 700x23c. That's where I get it from... I can really notice the difference at 90psi when I ride, and worry about pinch flats if I hit a bad pothole or something.

CramCycle

RobFowl wrote: »

What's with the high psi levels ! I'm 74 kgs and would usually use 90-95 for the road. Little less in the wet, why people use 120 routinely I just don't know ...

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Recommended pressure from continental for gatorskins is between 110-120psi for 700x23c. That's where I get it from... I can really notice the difference at 90psi when I ride, and worry about pinch flats if I hit a bad pothole or something.

Depends on how heavy the rider is as well, heavier riders should use a higher pressure. I know thats the rule of thumb from riders in my club, if your light and its to high, you bounce around the place, your heavy and its too low and you pinch flat and pick up everything.

Alanstrainor

I've never found myself to bounce around, and I'm 76kg at the moment. I thought I read somewhere that lower pressure was worse for punctures too? And that at the 120psi kind of range it was the case that the tire would deflect the debris better than if it was at 90. That could be rubbish though, I don't have any source for that!

CramCycle

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I've never found myself to bounce around, and I'm 76kg at the moment. I thought I read somewhere that lower pressure was worse for punctures too? And that at the 120psi kind of range it was the case that the tire would deflect the debris better than if it was at 90. That could be rubbish though, I don't have any source for that!

Your not light enough :pac:

I use 120psi all the time, I am 80kg. One of the guys in our club is at the 65kg mark and swears he bounces/loses the road at anything over 95psi.

You are right about the debris, we had diagrams in other threads, experience teaches me that I should have my tyres above 100 and that 120 is best for reducing puncture likelihood.

RobFowl

CramCycle wrote: »

Your not light enough :pac:

I use 120psi all the time, I am 80kg. One of the guys in our club is at the 65kg mark and swears he bounces/loses the road at anything over 95psi.

You are right about the debris, we had diagrams in other threads, experience teaches me that I should have my tyres above 100 and that 120 is best for reducing puncture likelihood.

I have had very few punctures this year (maybe 2?) and would have tyres at 100 max. I find handling gets worse above that and can't take turns it corners as fast.
Horses for courses and all that though.

tomasrojo

I always run 6 bar (which is about 90psi, I think).

I have a terrible memory for numbers, so that's easy to remember (6 bar is near "12 o'clock" on the pressure dial).

Get very few punctures on that with gatorskins. Can't be bothered experimenting further.

(I don't cycle very fast.)

Thargor

Gatorskins Gatorskins Gatorskins...People say they're slick in the wet but meh, Ive never come off on wet winding roads and fast descents around Wicklow, never even slipped tbh. Better than nearly giving up cycling because you were sick of checking the tyres every time you went to go ride and finding one flat like happened to me when I first moved to Bray where the roads are constantly sparkling with broken glass, never had a puncture on Gatorkins coming up on 3 years now touch wood.

Wishbone Ash

I used to always run at 120 but dropped to 90 a few days ago as an experiment (I'm 72kgs). Feels weird as I keep thinking I've punctured but the difference in grip in huge. Much more confidence in cornering in the wet now and the bike feels more stable on rough roads - no hopping around. Ride is also a lot more comfortable but that wouldn't be a factor either way. No punctures as yet. I'll see how it goes.

Alek will be pleased!

Thargor wrote: »

Gatorskins Gatorskins Gatorskins...People say they're slick in the wet but meh, Ive never come off on wet winding roads and fast descents around Wicklow, never even slipped tbh. Better than nearly giving up cycling because you were sick of checking the tyres every time you went to go ride and finding one flat like happened to me when I first moved to Bray where the roads are constantly sparkling with broken glass, never had a puncture on Gatorkins coming up on 3 years now touch wood.

I've punctured many times on Gators and even the Gator Hardshells and they are dodgy in the wet in my experience.

tomasrojo

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

they are dodgy in the wet in my experience.

Ah, but you've only just joined the six-bar club!

petethedrummer

RobFowl wrote: »

I have had very few punctures this year (maybe 2?) and would have tyres at 100 max. I find handling gets worse above that and can't take turns it corners as fast.
Horses for courses and all that though.

Same here, I run around 90 psi and have had 0 punctures this year. 25mm tyres.

I did puncture my dancing shoes on Saturday night though. Big lump of glass up through the sole.

Wishbone Ash

tomasrojo wrote: »

Ah, but you've only just joined the six-bar club!

Yes, I should have clarified - dodgy at 8 bar! (that is, in comparison to other brands/types)

eeeee

CramCycle wrote: »

Your not light enough :pac:

I use 120psi all the time, I am 80kg. One of the guys in our club is at the 65kg mark and swears he bounces/loses the road at anything over 95psi.

You are right about the debris, we had diagrams in other threads, experience teaches me that I should have my tyres above 100 and that 120 is best for reducing puncture likelihood.

Do you have a link to said diagram?
I have no problem with punctures yet this year on the road bike *touches ALL the wood* but that can't last forever…

I pump my tyres to 100psi minimum (25c road bike), 120+ on a dry sunny day. At 60kg, or a few under it sometimes can I leave less in them? I am obsessed with grip at the moment, anything that gives more of that without puncturing would be great!

Qualitymark

One poster (sorry, couple of pages back, can't remember who) talks about lowered performance with anti-puncture tyres. Is this significant, and what kind of loss?

And what's the best kind of anti-puncture tyres, in yizzers' estimation?

Wishbone Ash

Qualitymark wrote: »

One poster (sorry, couple of pages back, can't remember who) talks about lowered performance with anti-puncture tyres. Is this significant, and what kind of loss?

It probably depends on one's normal average speed but it is noticeable if you normally average above 25km/h and if you travel on open roads - usually 1-2km/h less speed with the same effort. Not really that noticeable in an urban environment.

Qualitymark wrote:

And what's the best kind of anti-puncture tyres, in yizzers' estimation?

The best would be Schwalbe Marathon Plus (as fitted on Dublin Rental bikes). Another brand would be Panaracer Ribmo's. Continental Gatorskin's are also favoured by many commuters. There are several others but I don't have much experience of them.

What you gain in puncture resistance tends to be slightly lost in grip and rolling resistance.

monument

I also highly recommended Marathon Plus.

All puncture resistance tires are not equal.

fletch

7 years puncture free on 25c Schwalbe Marathon Plus's (5 years of which were 150km+ a week)
They're heavy and difficult to mount but it's a small price to pay for puncture free commuting.

Carawaystick

Ive Schalbe spicer slicks on the mtb
About 5k puncture free around Dublin

Dave_White

I've got 3 punctures this week alone. On related note conti ultra race tires are now changed to last winters vredestein duocomp.

P.s. I now have 5 patches on one tube. How much is too much?

Qualitymark

Do some of you have skinnier wheels than others?

RobFowl

Qualitymark wrote: »

Do some of you have skinnier wheels than others?

Yes and as a rough guide the skinnier the wheel the higher the pressure needed.
Ride tends to be harsher as well though was thought to be faster until recently.
Tendency towards slightly wider tyres for racing nowadays.

CramCycle

fletch wrote: »

7 years puncture free on 25c Schwalbe Marathon Plus's (5 years of which were 150km+ a week)
They're heavy and difficult to mount but it's a small price to pay for puncture free commuting.

I talked to a guy over in the UK who was a mileeater for want of a better description, he had worn them down to the blue band over the 5 years he had them doing, what he claimed was a minimum of 25,000km a year (I may have years and kms wrong, I was tired). But they still were puncture free when the blue band had started to show.

Dave_White wrote: »

P.s. I now have 5 patches on one tube. How much is too much?

I know others here have gotten away with 7+, it will just get harder and harder to do and the ride on skinny tyres may get noticeably bumpy if they are concentrated on one part.

Changing the tyres was a good idea, I would inspect the old ones closely just to see its not embedded debris causing the punctures over and over again.

Qualitymark

CramCycle wrote: »

Changing the tyres was a good idea, I would inspect the old ones closely just to see its not embedded debris causing the punctures over and over again.

Or pokey spokeys either.

CramCycle

Qualitymark wrote: »

Or pokey spokeys either.

True I always forget that despite it happening to me in the past. Check the rim tape (spokes poking through), the rim itself (metal poking out) etc

Dave_White

Checked for both. No pokey-spokey happening and old tires are nicked and cut, but just surface damage (as opposed to ultra race which after couple of months have loads of though and though punctures). So all good for time being. Will invest into marathon plus some time in feature.... or maybe someone has some hand-me-downs that are just gathering dust?